JanetteFuller.Com

Book Review: Quick and Easy Guide to Branding Your Business and Creating Massive Sales With Pinterest

noreply@blogger.com (Janette Fuller) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 22:37:00 +0000

Pinterest is a social networking site that allows users to create photo collections online. It is primarily a photo sharing website where the members are allowed to create albums pertaining to a certain theme or pattern.

"The Quick and Easy Guide to Branding Your Business and Creating Massive Sales With Pinterest", by Kim Garst, is a guide for using Pinterest to strengthen your business and brand.

About the Author
Kim Garst is a mompreneur, social media and personal branding strategist, speaker, coach and trainer. She was recently named by Forbes as one of the top 50 social media influencers.

The New Kid on the Block
Pinterest has become one of the leading social media networks. The site was founded in early 2010 and has grown by leaps and bounds. At present, the website attracts over 11 million visits each week, placing it among the top ten social networks. In the past six months, Pinterest has grown by 4000%. This site has become extremely popular with youth and women between the ages of 25 and 54.

The first portion of this book describes how Pinterest works and how to set up an account. It explains how to create different boards for yourself and how to share your own photos or pictures you "pin" on favorite websites or blogs. Ms. Garst tells how to download the "pin" button to your browser so that you can select photos from sites you visit to display on your Pinterest boards. She also explains how to get followers and connect with other Pinterest users.

The second portion of this book shares some tips for using Pinterest to promote your business. The author encourages business owners to be creative and develop interesting pictures on their sites. You can use the images that you pin to your boards to build links to your website and also to other sites. When a person clicks on a picture on your Pinterest board, they are taken to the website or blog where the picture was originally posted.

Ms. Garst states that Pinterest drives more traffic than YouTube, Reddit, Google+ and LinkedIn combined! The strength of this unique platform lies in its simplicity. By connecting items, photos and interests instead of people, Pinterest has revolutionized social media.

My Thoughts
This ebook is an excellent guide for getting started on Pinterest. It also offers many useful ideas on using this platform for building your brand and promoting your business.

Ms. Garst is very persuasive in explaining why a business owner should be using Pinterest. I purchased this ebook because I have opened an account on Pinterest but have not really started using it. This book helped me understand how and why Pinterest could add value to my Internet interests and my life. I highly recommend this ebook to anyone who is interested in using Pinterest to build their personal and business networks.

Rating: 5 Stars out of 5

PS ~ I am just a Pinterest newbie, but I would love for you to push the red "Follow me on Pinterest" button on the side of this blog.

FYI ~ I purchased this ebook with my own funds from Amazon.Com.

Please share your thoughts in the Comments Section below.

www.pinterest.com

Book Review: The Moonlighter's Guide for Using Fiverr.com

noreply@blogger.com (Janette Fuller) — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 01:04:00 +0000

What would you do for $5.00?

Fiverr.com is the world's largest marketplace for small services, starting at $5.00.

The Moonlighter's Guide for Using Fiverr.com for Immediate Income, by Connie Brentford, offers tips and advice for both beginners and experienced users on the website. The author states that Fiverr.com is "the simplest, quickest way I've seen to earn immediate online income".

About The Author
Connie Brentford is an author, freelance writer, devoted wife and mother of six children, who has lived in eight countries over the last five years. She enjoyed writing for many years before someone actually paid her to do it. She is dedicated to teaching others how to achieve a work-at-home lifestyle by making online income.

A Gig for $5.00
A job on Fiverr is called a "gig" and the price of a gig is $5.00.
A buyer searches Fiverr.com for an interesting gig. He finds and purchases your gig using PayPal.
Fiverr makes money by keeping a one dollar transaction fee.
Fiverr takes 14 days to process your funds and deposit the money in your PayPal account.
If you deliver a great gig with excellent customer service, you receive a thumbs up and a good review from your buyer.

Connie Brentford has written a comprehensive manual for getting started on Fiverr. She offers helpful information on the benefits of using Fiverr and how you can use it to enhance your online business.

The author provides information on the different kinds of goods and services that are offered on Fiverr. She also offers helpful tips on how to write gigs that will attract customers.

My First Gig
I was very curious about how Fiverr works and decided to put the knowledge that I learned from this ebook to the test. I opened an account on Fiverr and listed my first gig.

I made a short video to promote my gig and loaded it to the Fiverr website. I then waited for customers.

I was pleasantly surprised to receive three customers over the past two days. I have completed the jobs and have two "thumbs up" reviews on my profile. I found this experience to be fun and productive. I hope the contacts I make on Fiverr will lead to more business in the future.

Ms. Brentford has provided all the information you need to get started making money on Fiverr. Highly recommended.

My Rating: 5 Stars out of 5

FYI ~ I ordered this ebook from Amazon.com when it was offered as a free digital download. Please check the price before ordering.

Please share your thoughts in the Comments Section below.

Happy Scarecrow Greeting Card

noreply@blogger.com (Janette Fuller) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 14:37:00 +0000

I love the characters from "The Wizard of Oz". This is the Scarecrow who was looking for a brain. I gave this card a vintage/distressed look to match the scarecrow's raggedy clothes.

I am entering this card in Mo's Challenge #122 ~ "My Sentiments Exactly".

This is how I made the card:
(1.) I used a pre-made card from kraft cardstock for the base. The card measured 5" by 6 1/2".
(2.) I cut a piece of Tim Holtz distressed cardstock for the background.
(3.) I cut and dry embossed a piece of blue Tim Holtz cardstock with a Spellbinders "Lacey Circles" die and my Cuddlebug.
(4.) I used the Scarecrow digital stamp from Mo's Digital Pencil Store. I cut out the image and colored it with Copic sketch markers. I attached the image to the circle and put it on the card.
(5.) I used a purchased sticker "My honey" for the sentiment.
(6.) I punched three paper buttons from the cardstock that I used for the background of the card. I used twine in the center of the buttons and attached them to the card with glue dots.
(7.) I punched three hearts from the cardstock and put red heart stickers in the centers.
(8.) I attached two pink heart brads on the card.

I gave this card to "My Honey" on Valentine's Day.

Please share your thoughts in the Comments Section below.

Kindle Books for Kids: A Lovely Day

noreply@blogger.com (Janette Fuller) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 16:12:00 +0000

Happy Valentine's Day to all my family, friends and loyal readers! Love is in the air and this is a special day for lovers everywhere.

I recently read "A Lovely Day; A Valentine Picture Book for Children" by Sujatha Lalgudi. This is a story about a young boy who finds a perfect Valentine's Day gift for each member of his family.

About The Author
Sujatha Lalgudi was born in Bangalore and holds a Masters Degree in Computers. After working for several years in the Silicon Valley, she moved back to India. She is currently residing in Mysore, a heritage city. She and her husband Raghavendra Mocharla run and operate www.yumdeal.com and www.hippidoo.com.
Both her children, daughter aged 8 and son aged 3 love books. All her books pass through their test first :-)
Sujatha Lalgudi has written many ebooks for children. They are all available on the Amazon Kindle.

Valentine's Day
This is a very simple ebook for children that features a young boy and his family. Each page of the book shows him presenting a different family member or friend a Valentine's Day gift.

The boy gives his mommie a bouquet of red roses, his daddy some tasty cupcakes and his best friend a bunch of balloons. He gives his dog a special bone and his cat a cozy blanket. He presents his "Valentine" with a big red paper heart!

The story ends with a picture of the boy and his parents embracing and looking very happy ~ "lots of kisses, loads of hugs, all for me!"

My Thoughts
This 13-page ebook is a short and sweet story for young boys and girls. Each page includes a full-page color illustration and one sentence of text. The text is written above or below the illustration in big print.

I read this book on my Kindle 3 (black and white illustrations) and my Kindle for PC application (color illustrations). I enjoyed the pictures and text on the small screen of my Kindle. The formatting is very good and I did not have any problem reading the text.

The color illustrations are very expressive and truly convey the joy of giving that the boy experienced as he gave gifts to his family and friends. I love the way this book emphasizes the spirit of generosity. The gifts were all inexpensive and many of them were homemade.

The last page of the story is so sweet. It shows that the boy received the very best gift of all ~ Hugs and kisses from his loved ones.

I think this is an excellent story to share with young children on Valentine's Day. Highly recommended!

My Rating: 5 stars out of 5

FYI ~ I ordered this book from Amazon.Com when it was offered as a free download. Please check the price before ordering.

Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Handmade Collage Valentine Card

noreply@blogger.com (Janette Fuller) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:05:00 +0000

Love is in the air and Valentines Day is just around the corner. I have been busy making handmade Valentines cards for some of my family members.

This is a collage. A collage may include newspaper clippings, ribbons, bits of colored or hand-made papers, portions of other artwork or texts, photographs and other found objects, glued to a piece of paper or canvas.
You do not have to be an artist to create a collage. You just have to have a good imagination and a collection of ephemera that could be used for your project.

I hope this will inspire you to create an original card for your sweetheart on Valentines Day.

This is how I made my Valentine collage;

I started with a blank greeting card that measures 4 1/2" by 5 1/2". The card is red on the outside and white on the inside. I used a Martha Stewart Punch (Cherish) to punch the front edge of the card.
I cut a 3 1/2" heart from a piece of patterned paper with foil hearts and from an old Bingo playing card. If you don't have scrapbooking paper, you could use a piece of pretty wrapping paper or a page from an old book.
I found this picture of a Victorian girl in my scrapbooking stash. You could use a real photo that you sized to fit the card or a photo from a book/magazine.
I punched a 1" heart from felt and placed it at the top of the Bingo card heart.
I used a Martha Stewart button punch to make a button from a Bingo card. I put a red glitter heart in the center of the button punch. You could use a real button or a favorite sticker.
The ticket "Adore" is from a package of Tim Holtz embellishments. You could use the text from an old greeting card or a handwritten note.
I embellished the card with 3 pink butterflies that I punched with a Martha Stewart punch. I added some glitter and attached them to the card with glue dots. I added a small heart sticker to the side of the card.

There is no limit to the creative cards you can make with old paper, fabric, lace and embellishment that you probably have in your home. It is time to reuse, recycle and upcycle some of the items that might end up in your trash bin.

Happy creating!

Please share your thoughts in the Comments Section below.

Handmade Valentine Card

noreply@blogger.com (Janette Fuller) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:58:00 +0000

Valentines Day is just around the corner. I made a handmade Valentine card for Mo's Digital Challenge #121 - BINGO w/a Mo Image.
This week I was challenged to use the Bingo card below to create a card. The objective was to choose one row...vertical, horizontal, or vertical...and use those elements in the making of a card.
I chose the bottom row of the Bingo card ~ Dies/Punches, Brads and Dry Embossing.

This is how I made the card;
(1.) I started with a blank card made from kraft cardstock. The card measures 5" by 6 1/2".
(2.) I used a piece of Tim Holtz distressed cardstock for the background. I used the Fiskar System to hand emboss a small heart in each corner of the cardstock. I used Tim Holtz distress ink (Barn Door) to highlight each heart.
(3.) I used the image "Sprout" that was Mo Manning's contribution to the "Help for Katie" project. I colored the image with Copic Sketch markers and then used a Fiskars template to cut a circle around the image.
(4.) I used the Nestibilities die "Lacy Circles" to cut a background for the image from Tim Holtz distressed cardstock.
(5.) I cut the letters "L", "O", "V", "E" from a piece of "Holidays" Tim Holtz disstressed cardstock.
(6.) I embellished the card with two pink heart brads (Cricut).

Thank you for viewing my card. Please share your thoughts in the Comments Section below.

Book Review: Introducing Wizzley.Com

noreply@blogger.com (Janette Fuller) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:29:00 +0000

What inspires you? Would you like to tell the world about your passions and expertise?
"Introducing Wizzley.Com; A New Way of Making Money Online by Writing Articles" by Jill Gains, is an ebook that instructs users on how to navigate and benefit from the Wizzley.Com site.

What is Wizzley?
Wizzley.Com is a content and blogging platform that allows you to publish your articles online and earn advertisement and affiliate revenue from them. As an author, you can write articles on a variety of topics and upload them on this site. By promoting these articles on social networking sites, you can increase the page views for your articles, which converts directly to more revenue for you.

Authors on Wizzley receive the following benefits;

a professional and attractive environment for their articles.

several different avenues for making money or donating to charity.

many useful modules to create unique and useful articles.

personal attention and assistance from dedicated moderators and the Wizzley team.

a friendly and supportive community of peers.

Wizzley was launched in May, 2011, making it one of the newest content publishing sites on the Internet. It was created by some of the leading lensmasters at Squidoo, who came together to create a site that would help writers to earn more revenue from their content.

My Thoughts
I was not familiar with Wizzley.Com before I read this ebook. I was curious about this site because I know that article marketing is a very popular and profitable way to do business on the Internet.

Ms. Gains explains exactly what Wizzley is and the benefits of using this site instead of other content publishing sites. She explains how to register with the site and how to open an author's account. She provides detailed information about how to set up your profile.

The author explains how to create pages on Wizzley and how to add your content. She explains all the different modules that you can use to make your content more interesting and more profitable. She provides a detailed explanation about the affiliate programs you can use on Wizzley and how you can maximize your profits.

I am very impressed with the Wizzley site and I think Ms. Gains has done an excellent job putting together a detailed "how-to" manual. This ebook will help you get your first article published on Wizzley with a minimum amount of time and energy.

My Rating: 5 Stars out of 5

DYI ~ I ordered this ebook from Amazon.Com when it was offered as a free digital download. Please check the price before ordering.

Share Memories With Animoto

noreply@blogger.com (Janette Fuller) — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 19:46:00 +0000

Would you like to create a professional quality video slideshow to share with your friends and family?
Animoto lets you organize your photos, add some video clips and top it off with your favorite music. It is very easy to do and you will love the results.
I recently attended my daughter's baby shower and created a slideshow with the photos and video that we took on this special day. I used a brand new Animoto template named "Through the Blossoms" to design the slideshow. I explain exactly how I made the video in the steps below.

How To Made A Video Slideshow With Animoto
(1.) I transferred the pictures that I took at the shower from my digital camera to my computer. I also selected pictures that my daughter took with her camera and copied them from her album on Facebook.
(2.) I saved some of the favorite video clips that I took at the shower with my Flip Mino camera on my computer.
(3.) I went to Animoto and logged into my account. I clicked on the "Create Video" tab.
(4.) I was able to view all the video styles that are available on the site. I chose "Through The Blossoms" for this video.
(5.) I was taken to the screen where I would design the video. I clicked on the "Add Pics and Vids" tab. I uploaded all the photos that I had saved on my computer from my digital camera and the Facebook album. I then uploaded the video clips that I saved on my computer from my Flip Mino video camera. Animoto allows you to use 10-second video clips in your slideshows. You have the option of turning the audio off or leaving it on. I decided to turn the audio off on the video clips.
(6.) Animoto offers a collection of stock photos and video that you can add to your slideshows. I chose several baby photos from their collection to add to my slideshow.
(7.) I clicked on the "Add Text" tab and created several short written messages that I wanted to include in the video. You can drag and drop the text screens to the location you want them in the slideshow.
(8.) I clicked on the "Change Music" tab to select the music that I wanted to complement my photos. This is always the hardest part for me because there are so many selections in the music library. I chose a song named "Golden Days" for this slideshow.
(9.) I clicked the "Advanced Settings" tab to give the slideshow a name and description. There are other options you can use to customize the video to fit your needs.
(10.) I saved my work and then clicked the "Produce Video" tab. I waited a few minutes and it was a done deal. I previewed the video and then upgraded the resolution to 720 HD.
(11.) I exported the video to YouTube and shared it with my friends.

Animoto allows you to open an account and create a 30 second video FREE. Try it today.

Please share your thoughts in the Comments Section below.

Handmade Computer Guy Birthday Card

noreply@blogger.com (Janette Fuller) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 22:52:00 +0000

I had a very pleasant surprise this morning. I went to the Mo's Digital Challenge site and found out that my name had been drawn in a random drawing to win a $5.00 gift certificate to Mo's Digital Pencil Store. W00T!!!
I used my gift certificate to purchase the image that I used for this card. The theme of this week's Challenge #120 is "Anything Goes".
This is how I made the card:
(1.) The base card is a pre-made blank card made from kraft cardstock. The card measures 5" by 6 1/2".
(2.) I used a patterned paper from my stash for the background.
(3.) I used the "Happy Birthday" embossing folder in my Cuddlebug to dry emboss a piece of brown patterned paper.
(4.) I chose the digital image "Computer Guy" from Mo's Digital Pencil Store. I colored the image with Copy sketch markers. I used a "Scalloped Oval" Nestabilities die to cut and emboss the shape after I colored the image.
(5.) I punched a tag from kraft cardstock and used some round epoxy stickers to make the name "Scott". I distressed the edges of the tag and tied a piece of string in the top.
(6.) I made some corner punches from the same cardstock that I made the tag and highlighted them with glitter. I attached them to the "Happy Birthday" embossed paper.
(7.) I found an orange "Smile" embellishment to attach to the image.

I plan to send this to a special young man who will be celebrating his birthday on February 10.

Thank you for taking a look at my card. Please post your thoughts in the Comments Section below.

Book Review: Etsy 101 - Sell Your Crafts on Etsy

noreply@blogger.com (Janette Fuller) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:45:00 +0000

Would you like to find a place to sell your handmade items on the Internet? Do you have vintage collectibles that you would like to sell? Would you like to sell art and crafts supplies to crafters?
Steve Weber, author of "Etsy 101 - Sell Your Crafts on Etsy, the DIY Marketplace for Handmade, Vintage and Crafting Supplies", believes that Etsy is the hottest marketplace on the Internet for artisans and crafters. This book will explain exactly how to open an Etsy Shop and get your crafts business up and going.

About the Author
Steve Weber is a native of Charleston, W.Va. He is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and a Journalism graduate of West Virginia University. He is the author of ten books that help online merchants and marketers.

The Ideal Marketplace for Artists and Crafters
Etsy has become the world's marketplace for handmade and vintage items. It was started by Rob Kalin, an artist and carpenter, in 2005. Mr. Kalin was looking for a place to sell his work online. He found that eBay was not a good fit for crafters and artisans because they seem to favor big sellers of mass-produced items.

Mr. Weber has written a very comprehensive book about how to navigate the Etsy marketplace. The book begins by explaining how to open an account and how to make purchases.

The real value of this book is the precise information that is given on how to open and operate an Etsy shop. Mr. Weber explains what kind of items can be sold in an Etsy shop, how to design the shop, how to list items and how to manage sales and shipping. He also goes into detailed information about how to market your shop with social media, SEO and paid advertising.

Mr. Weber explains the importance of interacting with the Etsy Community. He describes the Etsy forums, Circles and Teams. He features 14 successful Etsy sellers in this book and shares information about how they got started and how they operate and manage their businesses.

The author provides some basic information about copyright, licensing and taxes. The last chapter in the book is "Mind Your Manners and Dos & Don'ts". This section offers advice that will be a great help for buyers and sellers who are new to the site.

My Thoughts
I read this book because I am in the process of setting up an Etsy Shop. I have sold on eBay for many years but I agree that Etsy is the best place for "crafty" people.

I was very impressed with the amount of information that this book offers. It is a very useful primer for selling handmade art and crafts online. I can't think of a single relevant topic that is not covered in this book.

I found the information on PayPal online payments very helpful. I have used PayPal for almost as long as I have sold on eBay but I still learned some new information on receiving online payments in this book.

Kudos to Steve Weber for the research that he did for this book. This is a must-read resource for anyone who is interested in buying or selling items on Etsy.

My Rating: 5 Stars out of 5

FYI ~ I ordered a digital copy of this book from Amazon.Com when it was offered as a free download. Please check the price before ordering.

Please share your thoughts in the Comments Section below.

Kindle Books For Kids: Heaven Is For Real For Kids

noreply@blogger.com (Janette Fuller) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 14:08:00 +0000

Colton Burpo tells the story about how he got sick and went to Heaven when he was almost four-years-old. "Heaven is for Real for Kids; A Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back", by Todd Burpo, is written in a child's words and is meant to be shared with other children. The color illustrations reflect the experience Colton had during his amazing trip to Heaven.

About The Author
Todd Burpo is the pastor of Crossroads Wesleyan Church in Imperial, Nebraska where his sermons are broadcast locally every Sunday via the local radio station. He volunteers at Chase County Public Schools as wrestling coach for Junior High school students, as well as serving as a member of the school board. Todd graduated from Oklahoma Wesleyan University in 1991 with a BA in Theology. He was ordained in 1994.

A Little Boy's Journey to Heaven
Colton Burpo was almost four-years-old when he became ill and was taken to the hospital. During his stay in the hospital, he closed his eyes and found himself being carried to Heaven by an angel.

Colton describes all the things he saw and all the things he experienced while in Heaven. The text is very simple and is written in a way that children can understand. Each page is illustrated with a beautiful color illustration that complements the text. There is also a Bible verse on each page that supports the experiences that Colton described while he was in Heaven.

My Thoughts
This book is a child's version of the best-selling adult book "Heaven is for Real; A Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back." I have not read this original version of the book but plan to read it in the future.

I read this book on my Kindle 3 (black and white illustrations) and on the Kindle for PC Application (color illustrations). The illustrations and text are a good fit for the Kindle. Children will find this book easy and enjoyable to read on the small screen of the Kindle.

I think the child's version of "Heaven is for Real" is a book that is well-suited to share with children of all ages. This book will help parents explain what happens after a person dies. Colton remembers seeing all kinds of animals in heaven so this book would also be appropriate to answer questions about what happens to pets when they die.

Christian parents will find this book poignant and astounding. It is truly amazing that this young child could have an experience like this and be able to describe it in such vivid detail. There will always be skeptics, but I found Colton's story very believable and inspiring.

The theme of this book is "Jesus really, really loves children and Jesus really, really loves you." There is a FAQ section at the end of the book that provides more information about the Burpo family and Colton's experience. Highly recommended.

FYI ~ I checked-out this ebook from my public library.

Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Book Review: Mama Lives In My Hair

noreply@blogger.com (Janette Fuller) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 15:34:00 +0000

Four-year-old Celia Johnson is counting the days until her mother comes home from serving as an Army nurse in the Middle East. "Mama Lives in My Hair", by Merri Hiatt, is a 12-page short story that tells the poignant story of love and loss from a child's point-of-view.

About the Author
Merri Hiatt grew up in a small town near Shasta Valley in Northern California. Upon moving to the Pacific Northwest in Washington state, Merri fell in love with the mountains, ocean, rain and lush greenery.
Merri credits her high school creative writing teacher with giving her the nudge to pursue writing, and she's been writing ever since. She has written 11 books and they are all available in ebook format at Amazon.Com.

A Military Family
Lt. Mark Johnson is taking care of four-year-old Celia while his wife is serving as an Army nurse in the Middle East. The little girl marks a red X on the calendar for each day that brings her mother's homecoming a little closer.

Mark knew that his wife was in a dangerous area but he was looking forward to her return in less than two months. He was not prepared for the knock on his door and the presence of two Army officers with grim expressions on their faces. They told him that his wife had been killed and handed him a letter. The letter was from his wife and began, "If you're reading this letter, you know I am dead. Well, I'm not dead, my physical body is dead. You and I both know our spirit is what matters and my spirit is alive and well, whole and complete. I hope you can hold on to that fact."

Mark had the difficult task of telling Celia that her mother was dead and would not ever be coming home. He had been reading her the classic children's book "The Velveteen Rabbit" and Celia remembered the book said, "When you become real, you can't become unreal."

Celia knew that her Mommy was still real and with her. She realized that her mother's spirit was like the breeze and she lives in her hair. She knew that her mother's spirit would never leave her.

My Thoughts
This poignant short story is an excellent reminder of what military families have to deal with. The story brought tears to my eyes and is a very realistic account of the death and grieving experience. The author did a very good job writing about a difficult subject.

My Rating: 5 Stars Out Of 5

FYI ~ I ordered this ebook from Amazon.Com when it was offered as a free digital download. Please check the price before ordering.

Please share your thoughts in the Comments Section below.

All My Favorite Things

noreply@blogger.com (Janette Fuller) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:55:00 +0000

The theme for Mo's Digital Challenge this week is "All My Favorite Things". I love this image of the litte boy/girl getting kisses from the pup.

This is how I made the card;
(1.) I started with a blank pre-made greeting card made from brown kraft cardstock.
(2.) I used the paw prints patterned paper from a "Cats and Dogs" scrapbooking kit that I bought several years ago.
(3.) I used a Nestabilities die to cut and emboss a rectangular piece of coral colored cardstock.
(4.) I used the "Bronte Kisses" digital stamp from Mo's Digital Pencil Shop. This image comes with three sentiments about dogs so I chose the one by Edith Wharjon. It says, "My little dog ~ a heartbeat at my feet." I colored the image with Copic sketch markers. I tried to make Bronte look like my own little brindle "tiger-striped" dog named Tiger.

(5.) I embellished the card with two silver glitter hearts from Martha Stewart and a chipboard paw print sticker.

Thank you for taking a look at my card ~ Please share your thoughts in the Comments Section below.

Kindle Books For Kids: Little Library Mouse

noreply@blogger.com (Janette Fuller) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:29:00 +0000

A little white mouse explores the library in "The Library Mouse" by Stephanie Lisa Tara. Children will find this book charming and informative. The Library Mouse will have children begging to visit their local library and explore the many books that are housed there.

About The Author
Stephanie Lisa Tara believes that children's verse has the power to inspire a deep love of language and learning. Words tripping off the tongue in somersaults, rhymes that stick to your thoughts like taffy--that's the essence of her award-winning books.
Ms. Tara is the author of five children's picture books.

After The Library Closes
"Even when you are little, you can imagine big"....that is how this story begins. A little white mouse hears the key locking the library door after it closes for the day. The mouse and his friends explore the contents of many different kinds of library books and imagine that they are characters in the stories.

The story is written in a delightful rhyming prose that children will love. Each rhyme is written in five short sentences that include a wealth of book/library vocabulary words.

Alex Walton has done an amazing job illustrating this story. The pages alternate between simple line drawings and full-page elaborate color illustrations. The color illustrations show a white mouse in a purple suit becoming part of the library book that he is exploring. Children will be enchanted by the details in the color illustrations.

My Thoughts
When I was working as an elementary school librarian, I was always looking for books that encouraged children to visit the library. This is one of those books!
This book is an excellent resource for promoting the library to young children.

I really like the way the author incorporated many library/book vocabulary words in her rhymes. This book is a wonderful introduction to words like "page", "rhyme", "poems", "sentence", "glossy", "fable", "paragraph", "verse", "prose" and "images".

The color illustrations are outstanding. Children will be able to see much more in this story as they look at the pictures and use their imaginations.

This book was published as a print book in 2006 and released as a Kindle book in February, 2011. I read this book on my Kindle 3 (black and white illustrations) and on the Kindle for PC Application (color illustrations). I think the formatting for the Kindle is very good and children will enjoy reading the book on the small screens of a Kindle, iPad, iPhone, etc.
I think this is a wonderful selection for teachers and librarians to share with their entire class by using the Kindle for PC Application and a projector.

This book is an excellent selection for reading aloud or independent reading. I highly recommend this book for children, teachers, librarians and parents.

My Rating: 5 Stars Out Of 5

FYI ~ I ordered this ebook from Amazon.Com when it was offered as a free digital download. Please check the price before ordering.

Please share your thoughts in the Comments Section below.

Kindle Books For Kids: Twelve Dresses, One Star

noreply@blogger.com (Janette Fuller) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 22:56:00 +0000

A little girl learns that if you want to be a star, you should be happy with who you are. "Twelve Dresses, One Star; A Silly Picture Book About Being Who You Are, by Robert Stanek, is a delightful ebook that will build self-esteem and self-acceptance in young children.

About The Author
Robert Stanek wrote novels for more than ten years before he ever tried to get published. While he wrote those other books, he wrote many, many stories and books for his kids, and he collected them for a few decades, until at his children's urging he set out to get them published for others to enjoy.

Twelve Dresses
A young girl learns that it doesn't matter what you do, what you like or what you wear. The important thing is that you accept yourself and that you "be you, every day, in every way."

The girl is wearing twelve different dresses in the full-page color illustrations. Children will enjoy counting the dresses and comparing the styles and colors.

My Thoughts
I really like the message in this book and I think it is an important concept to teach young children. This book could be used to teach lessons in self-esteem, self-discovery and self-acceptance. Children are never too young to learn that they are special and they are loved just for being themselves.

I viewed this ebook on my Kindle 3 (black and white illustrations) and I was very pleased with the formatting. Each illustration fills the screen and there is one or two lines of text at the bottom of each picture. The illustrations of the young girl are large and the facial expressions are excellent.
I also view the book on my Kindle for PC application (color illustrations). I loved the colorful pictures and it was much easier to distinguish the differences in the twelve dresses in the color pictures.

I think pre-school children will find this ebook fun and entertaining. It is an excellent choice for young girls and boys. I think children will be happy to listen to this story over and over again.

My Rating: 5 Stars Out Of 5

FYI ~ I ordered this book from Amazon.Com when it was offered as a free digital download. Please check the price before ordering.

Please share your thoughts in the Comments Section below.

Book Review: Facebook Ate My Life, And Other Poems

noreply@blogger.com (Janette Fuller) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 15:32:00 +0000

Is Facebook eating your life? Are you networked out?

John McDonnell offers a humorous look at the social networking craze in "Facebook Ate My Life, And Other Poems". This 4-page ebook contains four original poems that reflect the author's outlook on life.

About the Author
John McDonnell has eight books on the Amazon Kindle. He has five collections of horror short stories, one collection of humorous stories about a space alien named Larry, a book of poetry, and a holiday book called "The Christmas Gift". He lives outside of Philadelphia, PA, with his wife and four children.

Four Poems
Mr. McDonnell has written four thought-provoking and entertaining poems for this ebook. The following poems are included in this collection;

Facebook Ate My Life. The author expresses his reluctance to "connect" with some of the unpleasant people from his past.
No Points For Neatness. Mr. McDonnell realizes that neatness is second to love when you have a houseful of children.
Birthday Boy. The author decides to celebrate his life on the anniversary of his birth.
The Phillies Have Won. Mr. McDonnell expresses joy after a long-awaited victory for his favorite baseball team.

Take Time For Poetry
Poetry like this is fun and entertaining. I don't claim to be an expert on poetry, but I enjoyed this ebook and it definitely brought a smile to my face. The author/poet has a talent for taking ordinary circumstances and expressing them in a poetic manner.

My only complaint is that the book ended too soon...I would like to read more. These four poems will wet your appetite and have you hoping that the author will soon publish more.

My Rating: 4 Stars out of 5

FYI ~ I ordered this ebook from Amazon.Com when it was offered as a free digital download. Please check the price before ordering.

Please share your thoughts in the Comments Section below.

Handmade Baby Shower Card

noreply@blogger.com (Janette Fuller) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:47:00 +0000

I am getting SUPER excited because I will soon have a new little granddaughter. I am going to attend my daughter's baby shower this weekend and I made this card to go with a gift.

I am entering this card in Mo's Digital Challenge #118 ~ Stitching (Real or Faux). You are requited to use an image from Mo's Digital Pencil Shop and real stitching or faux stitching to embellish the card.

This is how I made the card:
(1.) I started with a blank pre-made card that measures 4" by 5.5".
(2.) The background paper is felt-flocked "Baby Girl Pink Words" from Paper Studio. (I was lucky to find this paper on clearance at Hobby Lobby ~ I am always looking for bargains!)
(3.) I used two pieces of vintage pink lace seam binding to embellish the background paper. This seam binding came from my mother's sewing cabinet.
(4.) I used the digital image "Mother To Be 1" from Mo's Digital Pencil Shop. I colored the image with Copic sketch markers. This is the first time I used this image and I am very pleased with the way it turned out. I colored the image and carefully cut it out.
(5.) I mounted the image on a piece of white cardstock that I dry embossed with a Cuddlebug "Swiss Dots" embossing folder.
(6.) I mounted the image on a piece of blue cardstock and used a black gel pen to make the faux stitching along the sides. I used a paper piercer to make tiny holes on each end of the "stitches" to make them look more authentic.
(7.) I punched two paper flowers from the same blue cardstock and used tiny faux pink pearls for the centers.

Thank you for taking a look at my card. Please share your thoughts in the Comments Section below.

Book Review: He Restores My Soul

noreply@blogger.com (Janette Fuller) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 19:26:00 +0000

Do you feel like the mistakes you have made in the past are keeping you from having a close relationship with God?
"He Restores My Soul; The Journey Of A Servant", by Randy S. Dean, Sr., is the story of how the author fell to the temptations of sexual addiction while serving as a Christian pastor.

About The Author
Randy S. Dean was born and raised in Los Angeles. At the age of 19, he received his calling to serve God as a minister of the gospel. In 1984, he served his country in the United States Air Force and was honorably discharged after six years receiving various awards for his service including the Air Force Commendation medal.
Pastor Dean currently serves as the Executive Assistant to Bishop Milton Herring with Advancing the Kingdom of God Ministries (ATKOG) based in Torrance, California.

The Lord Is My Shepherd
The title of this book is taken from the 23rd Psalm. The term "restores" suggests not the ending of a restoration process, but rather the continuation of it. To restore something suggests a previous state of unacceptable existence is changed back to it's original beauty. The author hopes this book will help restore and heal those who have experienced emotional and spiritual damage.

Randy Dean shares his personal story about how he fell to the temptation of sexual addiction and pornography while employed as a pastor at a Christian church. The author did not go into the graphic details of his addictions but he made it very clear that his bad behavior resulted in his divorce and the estrangement of his family.

The author uses passages from the Bible to explain the restoration and recovery process. This is a gradual journey that must be done with patience and faith. This book is for everyone who wants a closer relationship with God, but it is especially aimed at pastors and leaders in the church. This book offers help and hope to God's servants who feel isolated and alone with their shame.

My Thoughts
I want to thank Pastor Dean for having the courage to share his story and address this sensitive subject. People tend to have very high expectations of their church leaders and are shocked to find out that they have the same temptations and faults as everyone else. The good news is that God forgives sinners and we can also forgive ourselves.
This is a self-published book that is available in paperback and for the Kindle. Pastor Dean is not a professional writer but is very good at expressing thoughts and feelings from his heart. As I read this book, I felt like I was having a conversation with the author and he was talking directly to me. I could tell that the author has truly "walked the walk" and is now reaching out to help others.
I would like to share a quote from Bishop Milton S. Herring (printed on the back cover of the book) ~ "This book may be an answered prayer for you or someone you know." I agree.

My Rating: 5 Starts Out Of 5

FYI ~ Thank you to Randy Dean for sending me a complimentary paperback copy of this book to read and review.

Please share your thoughts in the Comments Section below.

Kindle Books For Kids: A Pocketful of Dinosaurs

noreply@blogger.com (Janette Fuller) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 22:32:00 +0000

How would you like to have a pocketful of dinosaurs?

Kids will love "A Pocketful of Dinosaurs" by Scott Gordon. This ebook provides 2D and 3D illustrations and factual information about dinosaurs and the world they lived in. Kids (and parents) will appreciate the pronunciation guides for hard-to-pronounce dinosaur names.

About the Author
Scott Gordon is the author of several children's books, including A Pocketful of Dinosaurs, My Little Pet Dragon, My Crazy Pet Frog, Pigtastic and A Little Book About You. Currently he is hard at work on his next two projects: Ninja Robot Repairmen and Baby Bee.

Kids Love Dinosaurs
This ebook begins with a picture of a blue denim pocket and three colorful little dinosaurs jumping from the pocket. Wouldn't kids love to have a pocket like this?

These three dinosaurs teach the reader about the real-live dinosaurs that once roamed the world. Readers will learn what the dinosaurs looked like from realistic 3D illustrations.

Kids will love a computer-generated illustration of a T-Rex hovering over a frightened boy. The author then shows the difference between the way the dinosaur looked in real life and how the same animal looks as a skeleton in a museum.

This ebook lists ten links to online dinosaur resources that are appropriate for children. Kids can use these resources to learn more about dinosaurs and view dinosaur exhibits.

My Thoughts
This 31-page ebook will educate and entertain young readers. I really enjoyed the contrast between the cartoon-like dinosaurs that narrate the story and the realistic 3D pictures of dinosaurs.

This book is a good mix of fiction and non-fiction. The little dinosaurs in the pocket appear throughout the book and add a light touch to the facts presented in the text.

I found this book to be a very good fit for the Kindle. The pictures are large and dramatic. This book is a very pleasing visual experience on the ereader.

I recommend this book to all kids who love dinosaur books (I think that would include almost ALL kids.) This ebook is great for reading aloud or independent reading. It will inspire older readers to investigate and research the information presented in this book.

My Rating: 5 STARS Out Of 5

Please share your thoughts in the Comments Section below.

Kindle Books For Kids: Franklin Goes To School

noreply@blogger.com (Janette Fuller) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 18:19:00 +0000

Franklin the Turtle has been a much-loved children's book character for many years. He is also a popular star of his own television show. Franklin is now on the Kindle!
Franklin Goes To School, by Paulette Bourgeous, is the classic story of Franklin's first day at school. This book was first published in 1995 and was released as a Kindle ebook in May, 2011.

About the Author
Paulette Bourgeois is best known for creating Franklin the Turtle, the character who appears in picture books illustrated by Toronto native Brenda Clark. The books have sold more than 60 million copies around the world and have been translated into 38 languages. An animated television series, merchandise, DVDs and full-feature movies are based on the character.

The First Day of School
Franklin was going to school for the very first time. He woke up very early and felt like his tummy was "full of jumping frogs". Franklin's parents walked him to the bus stop and gave him a big hug. Franklin was worried...What if he wasn't smart enough to go to school? Who would be his teacher? Would he have any friends?

When Franklin got to school, his teacher discovered that he was a good artist. Franklin drew pictures, read a book and made a building of blocks. He had a wonderful day at school.

That evening Franklin gave his parents the two pictures he made at school and two big hugs!

A Perfect Story For The First Week of School
I read this story to the students in my school library many, many times. It is a perfect story for the first week of school. All kids are a little nervous when they begin a new school year. This story demonstrates that it is OK to be nervous but school is a friendly place for learning and fun.

This book (and many others in the "Franklin Series") is now available in digital format on the Kindle. I read the book on my Kindle 3 and was very pleased with the formatting and the entire visual experience.

I checked this book out from my public library. The process is very easy and the book is available for a 7 or 14 day period. If you finish the book sooner, you can return it to the library and check-out more digital books. I am very excited about the selection of children's ebooks that are available from the public library. I will writing about more ebooks from the public library over the next few weeks.

Please share your thoughts in the Comments Section below.

Showing Love and Hospitality To Others

noreply@blogger.com (Janette Fuller) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 23:39:00 +0000

I would like to share this guest post by Roxanne Packham, author of "Inspired Design". This article will inspire you to reach out to others in a spirit of caring, sharing and love.

Before we are inspired about how to show love to others, we must first ask why?

Quite simply it is because in Romans 12:10 & 13 we are told to be devoted to one another in brotherly love, to honor one another above ourselves. We are also told to share with God’s people who are in need and to practice hospitality. Notice the vocabulary: practice, not perfect.

In America, as a culture and as individuals, we are suffering in part because popular media gears everything to perfection. We are bombarded with messages that if we aren’t the very best at something, we just shouldn’t bother. We compare ourselves to others, rather than knowing our worth in God’s eyes.

I suffer from insecurity and wonder if I can be creative enough to inspire. Are my tips original? Are the photographs beautiful enough? Are my suggestions too simple for some, but too fancy for another? The problem: my thoughts revolve completely around me. My creativity, my skills, my ability. This is not about me but about God’s purpose for me. I suddenly realize the bigger picture; I can’t do it, but I can through Christ who strengthens me.

This dance in my mind between my preciousness in His sight and the enemy’s interjections has slowed me down at times, but God showed me this dance is the very reason for us to love others; to encourage each other. Because we are human we suffer from doubt, insecurity, and rejection of one sort or another. We are God’s tool to encourage others. God uses us as His hands to love others, but make no mistake it is His power, His grace and the Holy Spirit that do the real work, not ours.

God’s path of creativity in me began with a family history of silversmithing eight generations back, a degree from USC, design school in Paris, then design school in Los Angeles. Call them spiritual or otherwise, but they were the gifts God saw fit to give to me. Who am I to argue with my Creator? They are unique and I celebrate them. What are your magnificent and unique gifts that you can use to inspire others?

I do not want the gifts received as a blessing from God to “turn into spiritual dry rot,” as Ann Voscamp suggests in her book One Thousand Gifts, as the manna did when it was hoarded in Exodus 16:20. I want to use my blessings.

Inadequacies and all, imperfections and all: I want to inspire others to practice Hospitality and to LOVE others.

Creative Ways to Encourage Others on Valentine’s Day

KIND WORDS

A handwritten note with quotes, scriptures and words of encouragement is a wonderful thing to find in the mailbox.

Leave a sticky note on your child/husband’s pillow or be bold and write your note on the bathroom mirror or car window in red lipstick saying “I love you”.

Even an email just to say “thank you for your hard work, you bless me” can make a person’s day. A cute poem, scripture or old photograph will remind them they are remembered.

If someone has lost a loved one, kind words of some way that loved one inspired you to do something better will let them know that their loved one’s legacy is living on.

AN INVITATION, TIME

Take some time out of your days to meet someone for coffee, lunch, a long walk, or even just leave a phone message with a sweet sentiment. If you have more time, take a picnic basket to their home. Set up a lunch, tea or coffee, with all your tea cups and a candle. It is a lovely surprise! Just rinse when you finish and pack back up so they don’t even have to do dishes. They will have a lovely memory of a special time.

THOUGHTFUL GESTURE

Hang flowers on the front door handle, leave a pretty tiny package in the mailbox with a beautiful red bow, or cookies delivered to the front door. Create a breakfast plate for your child that says you are special . This is especially significant if your child has struggled with something recently.

A BEAUTIFUL DINNER

Of course this takes more time, but try for a beautiful table setting complete with candles, fresh greens or flowers and a lovely menu either handwritten or printed out on your computer. Don’t concentrate on the gourmet or complicated quality of the meal: remember it is about relationship and encouragement!

VALENTINE’S DINNER

A beautiful table for Valentine’s simply consists of reds, pinks and perhaps some purple. (Although it could be beautiful in all white too.) Of course, it has to have some hearts and some colorful candles. Leave kind words of some sort on each place setting. Every Valentine’s table should have its share of sparkle, of course!

Visit Roxanne Packham’s blog at www.InspiredDesignPublications.blogspot.com

for more pictures and Inspired Design ideas for Valentine’s Day.

Please share your thoughts in the Comment Section below.

Kindle Books For Kids: The Best Time To Read

noreply@blogger.com (Janette Fuller) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 15:39:00 +0000

"May I read to you?", asked the young boy.
A young reader is searching for someone to listen to him read aloud. Is there anyone in his family who will take time to listen?
"The Best Time to Read", by Debbie Bertram and Susan Bloom, is a rhyming picture book that will entertain and delight young readers.

About the Authors
Debbie Bertram and Susan Bloom are "The Write Sisters". Before turning to writing children's books full-time, Susan was an elementary school teacher and Debbie worked in television production. They often entertain children and librarians with their interactive reading at events around the country.

Does Anyone Have Time To Listen?
This picture book features a young boy who is just learning to read. He has a book in his hand and goes to each member of his family asking them to listen to him read the book aloud.

Unfortunately, it seems that everyone is busy and the boy retreats to his room to read to his stuffed animals. Wait! He hears a knock at his door and his entire family (even the dog) wants to listen to the boy read.

The book ends with a family story time on the floor of the boy's room.

My Thoughts
When I worked as an elementary school librarian, I was always looking for books that would promote reading. This rhyming picture book is a perfect example of the kind of material that I enjoyed sharing with my students.

This book was originally published in 2005 and was released as an ebook for the Kindle in February, 2011. I viewed the book on my Kindle 3 (black-and-white pictures) and the Kindle for PC application (color pictures). The color illustrations, by Michael Garland, are amazing and add depth and emotion to the text. The black-and-white illustrations are clear and bright.

Each page of the book consists of a picture and three lines of text on the Kindle. The text appears above the picture and is clear and easy to read. The pictures take up about one-third of the screen and the lower portion of the screen is blank - it would have been nice to see the pictures filling up the entire screen.

This story promotes reading and family unity. Parents are often "too busy" to spend quality time with their children. This book reminds us that the time we spend with our children is a wise investment. Highly recommended as a read-aloud selection and for independent reading.

FYI ~ I checked out this ebook from my public library. This book is priced at $9.99 on Amazon (Ouch!!!) ~ Check-out your public library for your entire family's ebook needs.

Please share your thoughts in the Comments Section below.

Kindle Books For Kids: Mortimer's Book of What-ifs?

noreply@blogger.com (Janette Fuller) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 14:28:00 +0000

What if I have to get glasses?
What if you forget your homework?
What if you decide to sell your sister?

"Mortimer's Book of What-ifs?", by Mandi Tillotson Williams, is a delightful collection of 19 rhyming poems for children. Children will also love to play the "Where's Mortimer?" game as they search for Mortimer's picture on each page.

About the Author
After experiencing a personal family tragedy-turned-miracle, Mandi Tillotson Williams has decided to pursue her lifelong dream of writing for children on top of having her own photography business and juggling three kids and their activities.
She is the author of another children's book ~ "Mortimer's Sweet Retreat". Please click HERE to read my review of this book.

Questions That Will Delight and Entertain
This ebook is a collection of illustrated poetry for children. Each poem is based on a question that children might be curious about. These humorous questions are answered with a delightful rhyming poem.

The color illustrations are ink drawings that are colored-in with crayon/colored pencils. There is a tiny picture of Mortimer hidden in each illustration so children will have a blast trying to find the little picture of Mortimer on each page.

My Thoughts
I found this collection of children's poems reminiscent of the Jack Prelutsky books that I would read my classes when I worked as a school librarian. Ms. Williams has a wonderful understanding of the way children think. The humor in this collection is outstanding and the illustrations are excellent.

I viewed the book on my Kindle 3 (black-and-white pictures) and the Kindle for PC Application (color pictures). There is one color illustration on each page and most of the poems contain 10 to 15 lines of text. I think the formatting for this book looks very good on the Kindle. The text is clear and readable on the small screen and the illustrations are clear and bright.
I can imagine a teacher or librarian using this book with their computer and a projector so a class could enjoy the poetry on a big screen.

This collection of poetry is great for independent reading or for reading aloud to younger children. This is a real gem!

My Rating: 5 Stars out of 5 Stars

FYI ~ I ordered this ebook from Amazon.Com when it was offered as a free digital download. Please check the price before ordering.

Please share your thoughts in the Comments Section below.

Book Review: Save Your Marriage - Get Rid Of Your Resentment

noreply@blogger.com (Janette Fuller) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 14:57:00 +0000

Do you tend to give your spouse the "silent treatment" when you are upset? Do you mull the same old issue over a lot, building a tighter case against your partner as time goes by?

Marriage counselor Claire Hatch, author of "Save Your Marriage; Get Rid Of Your Resentment", believes that resentment could be undermining the closeness you want from your relationship. She explains how most resentments develop in a predictable cycle in this ebook.

About the Author
Claire Hatch first showed an interest in counseling at age 14, when she volunteered on a crisis hotline for teenagers. Now a licensed social worker, she maintains a private practice near Seattle, WA. She specializes in marriage counseling and works to bridge the engineer/woman divide.

The Cycle of Resentment
The author defines "resentment" as anger that snowballs in your mind because you can't express your feelings and be understood. Either you try and get stuck in the blame game, or you've given up. This ebook is mostly for women who are afraid that resentment is sapping the life out of their marriage.

Ms. Hatch has identified a "resentment cycle" that explains how resentment really works. The following elements are included in the cycle of resentment;

Trigger event
Burning unmet desires
Negative conclusions
Painful feelings
Reactions
New desires

The author encourages the reader to print out a worksheet from her web site to work through each part of the cycle. This makes the woman aware of what is going on with her feelings before she talks to her spouse.

Ms. Hatch offers some very helpful communication tools to help the husband/wife learn to discuss their feelings in a successful manner. Many husbands will not be eager to talk about their feelings because they have been caught in the trap of not talking. The author gives many suggestions for healthy and productive communication between a husband and wife.

My Thoughts
This book begins with a case study based on two couples that Ms. Hatch has counseled in her private practice. She does a very good job explaining exactly how resentment can drive a wedge between a couple and damage their marriage.

After explaining the problem, the author goes into a detailed explanation of the cycle of resentment and how to overcome it. She offers women many suggestions for communicating with their husbands in a way that will improve the relationship and make the couple feel close again.

Ms. Hatch provides practical, do-able advice in an easy-to-understand method. The strategies in this relatively short ebook can really make a difference in your marriage and your life. The price of this Kindle ebook is $0.99 ~ This is an incredible resource for the money. Highly recommended!

FYI ~ Thank you to Ms. Hatch for sending me a complimentary digital copy of this book to read and review.

Please share your thoughts in the Comments Section below.

Kindle Books for Kids: Pinky Bunny's First Day of Kindergarten

noreply@blogger.com (Janette Fuller) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 19:33:00 +0000

"Pinky Bunny's First Day of Kindergarten", by Kristina Cardoza, is a cute story about a shy little bunny and her first day of kindergarten.

The unique thing about this book is the author was just 5 years old when she wrote this book! The story is based on the author's own first day of school. Pinky is a real stuffed animal that was a gift from Kristina's grandmother.

About the Author
Kristina Cardoza is currently 10 years old and is in the 5th grade. She wrote "Pinky Bunny's First Day of Kindergarten" when she was 5 years old. She wrote this story because she wanted to express how she felt on her first day of Kindergarten: no friends, was shy, and wanted to stay home because she missed her old friends.

Pinky Goes To Kindergarten
Pinky the bunny was not happy about going to kindergarten. When she got there, she was lonely because she did not have any friends. A friendly blue Cottontail bunny came up to Pinky and asked her to play. They were having a good time but were soon approached by a bully named Hops who wanted to wrestle.

Hops was very persistent and would not leave Pinky and Cottontail alone. They had to hide behind a slide just to get away from Hops. When it was time to go home, Hops sneaked into Pinky's red van and went home with her.

This story had a happy ending when Hops understood that he made some wrong choices. Pinky and Cottontail forgave him and they all became friends.

My Thoughts
This is a very cute story told from a child's point-of-view. This book would be a great way to motivate boys and girls to write about their own experiences. Kristina writes about a problem that most all children worry about...not having any friends. She also does a good job explaining how she felt while having to deal with an aggressive bully.

I read this ebook on my Kindle 3 (black-and-white pictures) and on the Kindle for PC application (color pictures). There is one color picture on each page and 4 to 8 lines of text underneath each illustration. There is a different color emphasized on many of the pages...ex. the word "BLUE" is colored blue. The illustrations look great in color and are large and clear enough to enjoy on the black-and-white screen of the Kindle. The print is a tad small but I don't think this is a major concern.

The conversation between the bunny children is very realistic and poignant. This is a wonderful little ebook to share with young children. The book could be used to motivate creative writing and storytelling. It is also a very helpful resource for discussing the problem of bullies and how to deal with them. Very good for read-aloud or beginning readers. Highly recommended!

My Rating: 5 Star out of 5

FYI ~ I ordered this ebook from Amazon.Com. when it was offered as a free digital download. Please check the price before ordering.

Please share your thoughts in the Comments Section below.